Stone gathering machine having a tiltable scoop and hopper



March 20, 1956 J. BESTLAND ET AL STONE GATHERING MACHINE HAVING ATILTABLE scoop AND HOPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9, 1953 MAID,FLOYO w. V/EL. BY

IN V JE'BGEIV BEST March 20, 1956 J. BESTLAND ET AL STONE GATHERINGMACHINE HAVING A TILTABLE SCOOP AND HOPPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.9, 1953 INVENTOR r1. 4ND, V/EL JEGEN FL 0 YO FY.

.4 1 roe/vs vs United States Patent Gil 2,738,633 Patented Mar. 20, 1956ice 2,738,633 STONE GATHERING MACHINE'HA'VING A TILTABLE SCOOP ANDHOPPER Jergen Bestland, Antelope, Mont, and Floyd W. Vie], Fargo, N Dak.

Application October 9, 1953; Serial No; 38538 8 Claims. (CI. 55-17) Thisinvention relates to mobile stone gathering-machines and moreparticularly to a' machine for picking and gathering the small stonesandpebbles that come tothe surface in the cultivation ofgla'ciated land.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a stonegathering machine which can' be" pulled over land by anagricultural'tractor andwhich is adapted to have a scoop assembly inengagement withthe ground surface and a hopper disposed aboveandadjacent one end of the Wheeled frame of the machinetoreceive thestones gathered by the scoop assembly as the scoop assembly is moved ina vertical arcuate'pathby the horizontal axes frorn its stone gatheringto its stone dumping position above thehopper; and' thehopper adaptedfor movement from its stone receiving" position to a stone dumpingposition also above the frame of the stone gathering machine; Also;there is provided-means whereby the depth to which thescoop assemblyengages the ground surface may be selectively controlled. Hence, thisinvention contemplates a stone gathering machine which is particularlyeffective-in disl'odging-and gathering stones and which may betransported readily-from placeto place and discharge a load of stonesgathered thereby at a selected point,- and which is of simple, yetrugged construction, requiring aminimum of maintenance over anextendedperiod of time.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following description and the appended claims in'conjunctionwith'the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a'stonegathering machine illustrative oftheinventio'n' with a portion of the machine broken away to betterillustrate the'construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a side elevational'view of the stone gathering machine withparts broken-away and shown in cross section to better illustrate theconstruction thereof, with the hopper and scoop assembly shown in brokenlines in adjusted or elevated position; and

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the machine.

With continued reference to the-drawings; the machine comprises a frame,generally indicated at 10, of rectangular shape having spaced apart andsubstantially parallel side members 11 and '12 and front and rear'crossmembers. 13 and 14 extending between and joined to the side members atthe corresponding'front and'rearends of the frame. A tongue 15'oftriangular shape is pivotally connected at its base to the front-crossmember 13, as at 15, symmetrically of the length of-thi's cross memberto move about an axis which liestparallel to the bar and carries at itsapicalifrontendz'an aperturedlug 16 for connection to the hitchmechanism of anv agricultural tractor.

Extensions 17 and 18 project laterally from opposite sidesof the framelongitudinally of the frontcrossmember 13 of the frame and.carryatlocations spacedcfrom" the frame vertically disposed bearingsleeves 19 and 20;

Caster wheel forks 21 and 22 are journaled at their upper ends in thesleeves 19 and 20 respectively and front caster Wheels 23 and 24' arejournaled in the forks 21 and 22 respectively for supporting the frontend of the frame and providing for the steering of the machine;

An intermediate cross member 25 extends transversely of the frame andparallel and adjacent to the rear cross member 14and is connected to therear cross member by spaced apart struts, as indicated at 26, extendingbetween the members 25 and Hand disposed substantially perpendicular tothese members. A rear axle 28 ex tends transversely of the frame-belowthe intermediate cross member 25 and a pair of lugs 29' and 30' extendupwardly from the rear axle 28 at the mid-length location of the rearaxle and in spaced'apart and substantially parallel relationship to eachother and have their upper portions disposed at the front and rear sidesrespectively of the intermediate cross member'25. A pivot pin 31extending through an aperture in the cross member 25 centrally of thelength and width of this cross member and through apertures disposedadjacent the upper ends of the lugs 29 and 30 pivotally mounts the rearend of the frame on the rear axle 28 for rocking movement of the rearend of the frame about an axis extending longitudinally of the frame andmedially of the width thereof.

Rear Wheels 32 and 33 are mounted on the respectively opposite ends ofthe rear axle 28 and support the rear end' of the frame and tensionsprings 34 and 35 connected between the frame cross members 25 and 14"respectively and the rear axle 28 at locationsspaced' from the oppositesides of the pivotal mounting provided by the lugs 29 and 30 resilientlyresist and curb rockingmovement of the frame relative to the rear axle,and also act to control and adjust the level of the'rear cross member14.

A hopper supporting frame 36 is mounted on the rear end of theframe 10and includes a pair of spaced apart and substantially parallel standards37 and 38 projectin'g perpendicularly upward from the main frame sidemember 12; a pair of similar standards, one of which is indicated at 39,projecting perpendicularly upward from the main frame side member 11; arail 40 extending across and projecting beyond the top ends of'thestandards '37 and 38 and disposed substantially parallel to the sidemember 12, a rail 41 extending across and beyond the top ends of thestandards projecting upwardly from the side member 11, a diagonal brace43 inclined down? wardly and forwardly from the front end of the rail 40to the side member 12 intermediate the length of the latter and acorresponding brace inclined downwardly and forwardly from the front endof the rail 41" to thesidc member 11 intermediate the length of thisside member.

A shaft 44 extends through the rear ends of the rails 40 and 41 and isdisposed above and parallel to the rear cross member 14 of the mainframe and a trough shaped hopper 45, having an open top of rectangularshape, has its rear edge extending along and secured to the shaft 44between the rails 40 and 41. At its ends the hopper is provided withoutwardly extending flanges 46 and 47 which rest upon the top edges ofthe rails 40 and 41 respectively to support the hopper with its top sidein substantially horizontal position and parallel to the plane of themain frame 10.

Brackets 54) and 51 are secured to and depend from the intermediatecross member 25 at locations equally spaced to opposite sides of thepivotal connection 31 and pressure fluid operated, expansible chamberdevices 52' and 53 are disposed in substantially upright position andconnectedbetween the brackets 50"and 51 respectively and the hopper 45at locations spaced forwardly from therea'r end of the hopper. Theexpansible chamber devices 52 and 53 may comprise hydraulic cylinderseach having a piston reciprocably movable therein and a connecting rodsecured at one end to the piston and proiecting outwardly of the openend of the associated cylinder. The device 52 is pivotally connected atits lower end to the bottom end of the bracket 50 by the pivotalconnection 54 and is connected at its upper end to the hopper 45 by abracket 55 and pivotal connection 56. The expansible chamber device 53is pivotally connected at its lower end to the bottom end of the bracket51 by a pivotal connection 57 and at its upper end to the hopper by abracket 58 and pivotal connection 59, the arrangement being such thatwhen the devices 52 and 53 are elongated by the admission of fluid underpressure into the lower ends of the cylinder portions of these devicesthe hopper will be raised to move its open top side from a substantiallyhorizontal position to a substantially vertical position extendingupwardly from the shaft 44 at the rear end of the machine frame to dumpstones from the hopper rearwardly of the machine, as illustrated inFigure 2.

The scoop assembly, generally indicated at 69, comprises a rectangularscoop frame 61 having a rear side member 62 extending transversely ofthe machine frame forwardly of the intermediate cross member of themachine frame and pivotally mounted at its ends on brackets, asindicated at 63, extending upwardly from the side members 11 and 12 ofthe machine frame. 3" he scoop frame further includes a front sidemember 64 spaced from and parallel to the rear side member 62, endmembers 65 and 66 extending perpendicularly between the rear and frontside members and secured to these side members at the corresponding endsof the scoop frame, an intermediate cross member 67 extending betweenthe rear and front side members medially of the length of the scoopframe and diagonal braces 68 and 69 extending across the rear corners ofthe frame. It is here pointed out that tension springs 34 and also serveto resiliently control and adjust the level of the front side bar 64since the hydraulic cylinders 52 and 53 are carried at one end by thecross member 25 and the cross member 25 has a resilient relation to thesprings.

The scoop assembly also comprises a plurality of tines '70, preferablyformed of resilient material, such as tempered steel, and eachcomprising an elongated rod tapered from a location intermediate thelength thereof to one end. Each tine '70 is bent intermediate its lengthto an angle somewhat greater than 90, as indicated at 71, and thetapered portion of each tine extends in one direction from the bend 71therein while a shank portion of substantially uniform diameter extendsin a different direction from the bent intermediate portion of the tine.The tapered portion of the tine 7i preferably comprises approximatelytwo-thirds of the entire length of the tine while the shank comprisesapproximately one-third of the tine length.

The tines 74') are spaced apart along the front edge of the front sidebar 64 of the frame 60 with the shank portions of the tines disposedperpendicular to the frame side or bar as at locations equally spacedapart along this bar and with the tapered portions of the tinesextending forwardly from the front side member or bar 6 1 of the frameand disposed substantially parallel to each other. The shank portions ofthe tines are secured to the front side var 64 of the frame 60 by U-boltcalmps 72 and the shank portions of the tines may be adjustedlongitudinally relative to the corresponding U-bolt clamps to positionthe frame side bar 64 at a desired location longitudinally of the shankportions of the tines.

When the scoop is in operative position. as illustrated in full lines inFigure 2, the smaller or pointed ends of the tines 70 are disposedsubstantially in a straight line and rest on or slightly below thesurface of the ground below and adjacent to the front cross member 13 ofthe main frame 10 of the machine. The tapered portions of the tines areinclined rearwardly and upwardly from the smaller front ends of thetines and the shank portions of the tines are inclined upwardly andrearwardly from the bends at which the tapered portions join the shankportions, since the bends 71 in each of the tines are greater than 90,and in practice a bend of about 103 has been found to be suitable, apronounced slant of the tapered portion of each of the tines 70 withrespect to the ground surface will result as clearly shown in Fig. 2.The longitudinal center lines of all of the tines are disposedsubstantially in corresponding planes which are disposed in uniformlyspaced apart and parallel relationship to each other and perpendicularto the plane of the main frame 1.0 of the machine and to the end members13 and 14 of this main frame.

Brackets, defined by fiat, generally rectangular plates 75, are mountedone on the main frame side member 11 and one on the main frame sidemember 12 near the midlength locations of these main frame side members.Each bracket has a pair of spaced, longitudinally aligned, closed slots90 extending longitudinally of the plate 75. A pair of bolts 92 passthrough suitably formed openings in the respective frame side membersand through respective ones of the slots 90 so as to secure the plate ina selected position longitudinally of the associated side frame member.Struts, defined by the depending arms indicated at 72, are fixedlycarried by respective ones of brackets '75 and depend below thecorresponding main frame member. Each of the struts being longitudinallyadjustable along with its corresponding bracket relative to thecorresponding main frame side member. Each strut carries at its lowerend an abutment member 77 which engages with the under edge of theadjacent end members 65 and 66 of the scoop frame 60 to limit downwardmovement of the scoop assembly to thereby control the depth at which thefront ends of the scoop tines will operate below the ground surface. Byadjusting the brackets and struts 76 longitudinally of the respectiveside frame members, the operating depth of the scoop can be suitablyadjusted, since the point at which the end members 65 and 66 will engagethe abutments or stops 77 will be selectively varied as the brackets areadjusted longitudinally of the frame, preferably, with the brackets intransverse alignment.

Lever arms, as indicated at 73, extend rearwardly and downwardly fromthe rear side member 62 of the scoop frame one near each end of thisrear side member and brackets, as indicated at 79, are mounted on therear cross member 14 and intermediate cross member 25 of the main frame10 one near each side of the main frame. Expansible chamber devicesoperated by fluid under pressure, as indicated at and 81 are disposedone near each side of the main frame 10 and connected between thecorresponding lever arm '78 and bracket 79, these devices eachpreferably including a hydraulic cylinder, a piston reciprocable in thecylinder and a piston rod secured at one end of the piston andprojecting outwardly of the open end of the cylinder and each suchdevice is pivotally connected at its opposite end to the correspondingbracket 79 and lever arm 78.

When hydraulic fluid under pressure is admitted to the rear ends of thedevices 80 and 81 to cause elongation of the devices the scoop assembly60 will be tilted upwardly about the pivotal axis of the rear frame sidemember 62 from the ground engaging position illustrated in full lines inFigure 2 to the elevated position illustrated in broken lines in whichany stones carried by the tine assembly of the scoop will be dumpedrearwardly into the top side of the hopper 45. The load of the scoop canbe transferred to the hopper whenever necessary and, when the hopper hasbeen filled with stones, the machine can be pulled to a location atwhich the stones can be dumped from the hopper in the manner indicatedabove. It is contemplated that the expansible chamber devices 52, 53, 80and 81 will be hydraulic cylinder and piston devices supplied withhydraulic fluid under pressure from the hydraulic system of theagricultural tractor used to pull the stone gathering machine. It willbe understood that flexible tube connections will lead to valve controlsand to hydraulic power means such as that normally provided on tractorswhere with this invention is adapted to be used, these tubes and valvecontrols being thought unnecessary to be represented in the drawings, asbeing well known to those familiar with the art.

Side plates, as indicated at 84, are mounted on the end tines of thetine assembly of the scoop and extend upwardly from the taperedportionsof the end tines and forwardly from the shank portions of the tines tomaintain the stones picked up by the tines on the tines until the tineassembly is dumped into the associated hopper in the manner describedabove.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

l. A mobile stone gathering machine comprising a wheel supported frame,a hopper arranged above said frame, and pivotally connected thereto formovement from a stone receiving to a stone dumping position, and a scoopassembly engageable with a ground surface and pivotally connected tosaid frame for movement from a ground engageable position where itgathers stones to a position above said hopper where it deposits thegathered stones in said hopper.

2. A mobile stone gathering machine comprising a wheel supported frame,a hopper arranged above said frame in a stone receiving position andconnected to said frame for movement in an arcuate path about ahorizontal axis above and transversely of said frame adjacent one endthereof from a stone receiving to a stone dumping position, and a scoopassembly carried by said frame for movement in a vertical arcuate pathabout a horizontal axis lying in spaced parallel relation to said firsthorizontal axis from a lowered stone gathering position to a raisedstone dumping position above and over said hopper to deposit the stonesin said hopper.

3. A mobile stone gathering machine comprising a wheel supported frame,a hopper arranged above said frame in a stone receiving position andconnected to said frame for movement in an arcuate path about ahorizontal axis above and transversely of said frame adjacent one endthereof from a stone receiving to a stone dumping position, and a scoopassembly carried by said frame for movement in a vertical arcuate pathabout a horizontal axis lying in spaced parallel relation to said firsthorizontal axis from a lowered stone gathering position to a raisedstone dumping position above and over said hopper to deposit the stonesin said hopper, and means carried by said frame selectively adjustablelongitudinally of the frame and extending therebelow for engagement bysaid scoop assembly to thereby control the depth at which said scoopassembly will engage the ground surface.

4. A mobile stone gathering machine comprising a wheel supported frame,a hopper arranged above said frame in a stone receiving position andconnected to said frame for movement in an arcuate path about ahorizontal axis above and transversely of said frame adjacent one endthereof from a stone receiving to a stone dumping position, and a scoopassembly carried by said frame for movement in a vertical arcuate pathabout a horizontal axis lying in spaced parallel relation to said firsthorizontal axis from a lowered stone gathering position to a raisedstone dumping position above and over said hopper to deposit the stonesin said hopper, and means carried by said frame selectively adjustablelongitudinally of the frame and extending therebelow for engagement bysaid scoop assembly to thereby control the depth at which said scoopassembly will engage the ground surface, said means comprising bracketscarried by said frame at opposite sides thereof for limited movementlongitudinally of the frame to selectively adjusted positions, adepending strut carried adjacent one end by each of said brackets formovement therewith, an abutment member defining a stop carried by theother end of the strut for movement therewith and intercepting the pathof movement of said scoop assembly in one direction remote from thestone dumping position to thereby control the depth at which saidassembly will engage the ground surface as said brackets are moved toselected adjusted positions longitudinally of said frame.

5. A stone gathering machine comprising a wheel supported frame, asupport structure carried by said frame adjacent one end thereof andextending upwardly therefrom, a hopper carried by said structure formovement about a horizontal axis above and transversely of said framefrom a horizontal stone receiving position to a vertical stone dumpingposition, and a scoop assembly carried by said frame for movement abouta horizontal axis disposed toward the end of said frame away from saidone end and in spaced parallel relation to said firstmentionedhorizontal axis for movement from a stone gathering ground engagingposition to a position above said hopper so that stones can be depositedfrom said assembly into said hopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

